Fruit

Mark 11 is packed with challenges and promises about bearing fruit. Two of my favorite Jesus stories take place in this chapter. First, the triumphal entry on a colt - there is just something spectacular about Palm Sunday. Secondly, the account of Jesus driving the moneychangers from the temple is the first time I see Him really mad. As I was reading Mark 11 I noticed that Jesus got really upset with the fig tree not producing fruit OUT of season. That seemed a little harsh to me. I can see why Jesus would get mad in the temple. Those folks were robbing the people and were turning His house into a den of thieves - that's bad. But a fig tree not producing fruit when it's not time to produce fruit? That makes no sense to me. Then ... I realized ... this has nothing to do with the tree - it has everything to do with the Pharisees - the high religious. They, the Pharisees, are the tree that bears no fruit and their "excuse" is that Jesus is not "in season" so they are not required to bear fruit. It all makes sense now. 1. Jesus comes riding in on a donkey (not exactly the way the Pharisess thought the Messiah would be showcased). 2. Jesus drives out the thieves from HIS temple, yet again infuriating the Pharisees with His supposed presumptuousness. 3. Jesus kills the fruitless tree. Jesus is rocking their world. He would NOT fit into their box. He will not fit into our box either now will he? He asks us to do crazy stuff - out of season. I know for me, I have always felt like I would be a foreign missionary. Well, God has asked me instead to stay put in little 'ole Salem, VA and BEAR FRUIT for Him. I have a choice. Will I wait until I'm on the mission field and in my "season" before I give Him glory? I will give him glory now - I will be a missionary to Salem, VA. I will determine in my heart today to give Him glory in all that I say and do. The encouraging part in Mark 11 starts in vs. 22 as Jesus' response to the disciples "Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it shall be granted him. Therefore, I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they shall be granted you." So, let's be the one that walks with Jesus, even when it doesn't seem like we should.